#WeMakeEvents campaign plans global day of action for 30 September
Acting in response to soaring unemployment in the events industry across the world.
Image: The Editorialist / Alamy
The #WeMakeEvents campaign has announced a global day of action for tomorrow (30 September), highlighting the soaring unemployment in the events industry worldwide.
The campaign follows the majority of the industry losing effectively all income since the beginning of the pandemic in March, the continued uncertainty surrounding a financially-viable return date for mass events, and the increasing likelihood of a second global wave of COVID-19 cases.
Tomorrow marks the start of a new phase of the campaign, continuing to alert governments of the disastrous impact the sector could face. In the UK alone, the DCMS’ figures state the Cultural Sector’s value exceeds £100 billion and was the fastest growing sector in 2017 and in 2018, the outdoor events industry attracted 141.5 million visitors. However, the sector does not receive arts grants, which means that the recent £1.57 billion bailout won’t reach many of the workers and businesses essential for live events to happen.
Bryan Raven, Managing Director of White Light, said: “In 2019, we turned over between £3 and £4 million in the corporate events market,” says “This year, in the same time period, we have turned over just £8,000. At the beginning of the year, we employed 260 people. It doesn’t take an accountant to do the maths and realise it’s not financially viable to keep a company going under such circumstances. The result is that we have already had to make 67 staff redundant and, unless the Furlough scheme in the UK is extended or replaced, a further 50 roles are at risk. It’s tragic to see our company go from being highly successful to this in a matter of months.”
The #WeMakeEvents campaign is calling on governments worldwide to extend significant financial support for the people and companies in the events sector supply chain until they can viably return to work.
The continued existence of guitar as we know it relies on that of live music – find out how you can support those who make events happen over at wemakeevents.com.